Failing to Keep Scrupulous Records and Submit Spotless Claims Comes with a Heavy Price

The COVID-19 pandemic threw the entire world into chaos. Certainly urgent care centers experienced their own massive disruptions, such as keeping up with seemingly spontaneous changes in rules related to caring for patients during a healthcare crisis. That doesn’t mean less attention can be paid to complying with relevant regulations, however, as an urgent care operator in New York can affirm. The company agreed to pay over half a million dollars to settle allegations that it submitted false claims for services they never provided—specifically, administering COVID-19 vaccines and tests. The settlement comes as part of a nationwide effort among investigative and law enforcement agencies to fight healthcare fraud related to the pandemic. Ensure that your team is up to speed on proper procedures, and that they have the right tools at their disposal to ensure accurate, compliant billing and coding practices.